The primary function of the Erie County Legislature is the approval of budgetary issues. Of course, the biggest budgetary issue that comes before the Legislature is the budget itself. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously, because Erie County residents have elected 15 individuals to decide how to spend their tax dollars. This is money that you have worked hard to earn and has been determined by elected officials at many levels of government as necessary to pay for governmental services.

The county executive released his proposed 2012 budget this week. Individual legislators will spend the next few weeks reviewing the budget prior to budget hearings in November.

During the hearings, legislators will hear from each department regarding their spending requirements and priorities for next year. The public is welcome to attend these hearings, although there is not an opportunity for the public to speak during the departmental presentations. Following budget hearings, the Legislature will conduct a public hearing regarding the budget. The Legislature will then determine whether to amend the proposed budget prior to passing a final budget in December.

Although I have just begun my review of the budget, I am pleased to report that it once again does not include a tax rate increase. As Western New York and the nation attempt to pull itself out of years of economic difficulties, now is not the time to request a tax increase.

In fact, our efforts should be geared to boosting job creation and making Western New York a more attractive place to live, work and raise a family. This will increase the tax base. By increasing the tax base, there is less need to increase tax rates. To be clear, I am opposed to a tax increase and will not vote to approve a budget that increases your tax rates if the budget is amended to require a tax increase.

The budget faces numerous challenges, which make the fact that there is not a tax increase particularly impressive. State mandates continue to rise. The cost of Medicaid to county taxpayers will once again be equal to the sum of all property taxes collected by the county. Pension costs continue to increase. Furthermore, New York State contributions to mandated social services programs continue to fall.

This year, the state will contribute

$24 million less to fund social services programs than it requires the county to provide. As such, a number of jobs will have to be eliminated from the budget in order to pay for these mandates without a tax increase. In anticipation of this, the county executive has been busy implementing strategies to make the provision of services more efficient and cost-effective. Just as taxpayers across the county have done, Erie County continues to do more with less.

I look forward to further reviewing the 2012 budget. I am interested to hear what you think. Please feel free to contact me by email at jmills13@erie.gov. I can also be reached by telephone at 655-5650.